Stilt



June 13, 1944. M. L. PEARsoN 2,351,145

. STILT Filed' Aug. 1v, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 ,QQ/Qns 2.

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june 13, 1944. A M. L. PEASON STILT Filed Aug. 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED 'snm-:sy PATENT orricla:I

Martin L. Pearson, Pontiac, Mich.

Application August 17, 1943, Serial No. 498,953

6 Claims.

This invention relates to stilts especially adapted for workmen engaged in various kinds of work that require operations at various elevations which may be beyond the normal reach of the workmen. The primary object of the invention is the provision of hydraulic stilts which may be conveniently applied and worn by a person while at work and will permit such person to stand or walk without undue interference or fatigue and to work at various elevations, some of which are beyond the reach of a person in a standingfpositon, consequently providing a portable-and safe means for a person to carry out work rapidly at different elevations and eliminate H the use of expensive'iequipment. such as scaffolding, ladders and the like heretofore employed.

With these and other objects in View as will become more apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to behad to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation diagrammatically showing a portion of a person standing on stilts constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation showing the stilts and the means of applying the same to the person.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the `line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form of foot piece.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating one of the stilts. I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectionalview illustrating the connection between anl operating handle and the pump of the hydraulic stilts.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates generally hydraulic type stilts equipped adjacent the upper ends with eyelets 6 to be engaged by snap fasteners 1 secured on opposite sides of a. waist-encircling belt 8V. Ankle straps 9 are secured to the stilts 5 adjacent the lower ends thereof and adapted to be fastened about the ankles of a person standing on the foot rests I0 of the stilts. The foot rests are of the type provided with upstandmg flanges to pre'- vent the persons shoes from slipping from vthe rests during the use of lthe device. The straps `9 are of the adjustable type so that the tautness thereof on the ankles of the person can be varied and also may be detached to permit the stilts to be removed.

The waist-encircling belt 8 is about the waist of 'the person, which with the foot rests and 'angle straps 9 secure the stilts to parallel the outer sides Aof the legs leaving the upper portion of the body and the arms of the person free to carry out work and for the manipulation of the hydraulic stilts.

Each stilt 5 consists of inner and outer cylinders I2 and I3 cast together at their lower ends to form a fluid chamber I4. The upper ends o f the cylinders I2 and I3 are externally screw threaded and thread into a head I5. The cylinder I2 receives a piston I6, the stem i1 'of which extends outwardly of the `cylinder assembly and terminates in the form of a'ball I8 and has adapted thereto either a foot piece I9 or a foot piece 20. The foot piece20 is of a cushion type having a socket to frictionally receive the ball I8 and a portion of the stem and may be readily applied and removed when desired. The foot piece I9 is in the form of a rigid plate 22 provided with diverging portions 23 that cooperate with each other and the plate informing a comparatively broad bearing surface to contact the ground or a oor. e

lThe plate 22 has formed thereon spring ngers 24 to receive and grip the balL The fingers receiving the ball I8 will permit the stem of the piston to pivot relative to the foot piece I 9 allowing the latter to readily adjust itself to the plane of the surface engaged.

The foot rest I0 is cast integrally with the lower end of the cylinder assembly, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The outer cylinder I3 may be of sectional formation and detachably connected, as shown at 25.

A suitable fluid is arranged in the chamber Il and a suction pipe 35 extends into the iiuid and is carried by the headl I5 and connected with a passage 21 thereof. The passage 21 leads into aI pump cylinder 29 formed in the head and in which operates a piston 29, the stem 30 of which is pivotally and slidably connected to an operatlngA medium 3I pivotally mounted on the head, as shown at 32. A check valve 33 operates in the passage 21 to permit the fluid to flow into the pump cylinder from the chamber Il by the actuation of the piston 29. A passage 34 connects with the pump cylinder 28 and to a passage 35 formed in the head I5 and which connects' with the upper ,end of the cylinder l2 and also with vadjusted tightly I cylinder l2 for action on the piston i6. The purpose of the valve assembly 31 is to permit the iluid acting on the piston It to be-drained and return to the chamber I4.

The operating medium 3| is in the form of a socketed head having an internal annular groove to receive spring iniluenced detents l carried by a lever Il. The lever 4| includes ahandle I2, a

shank 43 and an attaching portion u. The attaching portion 4l carrying the detent is angularly disposed with respect tothe shank I3 and is rotatable within the socketed head oi the op- 'erating medium. This construction will permit the handle 4I to be either swung upwardly or y downwardly with respect to the person using the stilts.

I'he levers when swung downwardly are out of the way of the arms and hands of the person using the stilts and when swung upwardly are in convenient position to be operated bythe person's hands. The operation of the levers by the person using the stilts will bring about forcing of fluid from the chambers il into the cylinders I2 against the pistons It, causing said pistons to travel and extend the foot pieces, or in other words, bring about the elevation of the person on the stilts. For the person to `lower himself on the stilts, it is only necessary to operate the valve assemblies 31 to bleed the cylinders i2 to permit the flow of fluid from said cylinders i2 to the chambers i4.' It will, therefore, be seen that the stilts can be conveniently operated while applied to the person and by said person through the operation of the levers for raising the person to a desired elevation or to lower the person by operating the valve assemblies. f

The fluid may be placed in the chamber il under pressure by simply removing the plug 38.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that eillcient hydraulic type stilts have been provided which may be easily and quickly applied to a person and when worn will permit the person to wall:` without inconvenience or to stand to carry out work with a minimum amount of fatigue. Further, it will be seen that the person wearing the stilts can raise and lower himself to reach work at different elevations normally beyond the reach of the person when in a standing position upon a floor or other supporting surface.

While I have shown and described the preierred embodiment oi' my invention, it will be, un-

vderstood that minor changes in construction,

combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In stilts for workmen, hydraulically operated stilt elements, and means for detachably securing said'stilt elements to a person whereby said person may stand and walk and carry out operations at various elevations.

2. In stilts for workmenl hydraulically operated stilt elements including operating levers for the extending of said stilt elements and valve mechanisms for the retraction of said stilt elements. and means for detachably securing said stilt elements to a person whereby said person may stand and walk and carry out operations at various elevations.

3. In stilts for workmen, hydraulically operated stilt elements, toot rests on said stilt elements. and a waist-encircling belt detachably connected to the stilt elements.

4. In stilts for workmen, hydraulically operat-l ed stilt elements, foot rests on said stilt elements. a waist-encircling belt -detachably'connected to the stilt elements, and adjustable ankle straps connected to the stilt elements adjacent the loot rests.

5. In stilts for workmen, hydraulically operated stilt elements including pivotal and detachable foot pieces, and means for detachablyy securing said stilt elements to a person.

6. In stilts for workmen, hydraulically operated stilt elements each including pumps operated by hand levers mounted for rotation whereby said hand levers may be directed upwardly or downwardly and valve means for release of iluid pressure, and means for detachably securing the stilt elements to a person whereby said person may stand and walk and carry out operations at various elevations.

MARTIN L. PEARSQN. 

